1. International transport and trade statistics Jasper Roos CBS / Statistics Netherlands Unit International trade

2. 2 Motive In the Netherlands the international trade is complex due to: -Different definitions of between Eurostat and National Accounts -Rotterdam Harbor and Schiphol Airport -The number of distribution centres -Globalisation Effect: A lot of confusion But: not only in the Netherlands

3. 3 The cross-border good flows Good flow: –Import and export –Exports from domestic production –Re-exports –Quasi-transit (“Rotterdam effect”) –Transit via customs warehouse –‘Real’ transit

4. 4 The cross-border good flows Good flow:Belongs to intern. trade in goods: –Import and exportYes –Exports from domestic production –Re-exports –Quasi-transit (“Rotterdam effect”)Only community concept –Transit via customs warehouseNo –‘Real’ transitNo

5. 5 Difference re-exports and quasi- transit Ownership: Re-exports – A resident is owner of the goods Quasi-transit – Owner is always a non-resident Effect: Trade margin does not apply to reporting country any longer (in theory)

6. 6 Difference re-exports / quasi- transit and transit through customs warehouse Customs Status: Re-exports / - Goods in free circulation of Quasi-transit European Union Transit through- Not yet cleared goods customs warehouse Effect: By definition transit through customs warehouse not in the concept of international trade in goods

7. 7 Difference re-exports / quasi- transit and ‘real’ transit Classified as re-exports or quasi-transit if: – Either:Clearing – Or: Storing (in case of goods in free circulation of European Union) – Or: Trading (in case of goods in free circulation of European Union) Otherwise: Transit Effect: Transit does not belong to the concept of the international trade in goods

8. 8 Difference theory and practice International trade in goods statistics should monitor all relevant cross-border good flows, but: –Choice between clearing or not clearing → Included or excluded from international trade in goods statistics –Ownership by a foreign resident (quasi-transit) → Excluded from national concept Do our definitions still reflect the real world ???

9. Questions ?